Keyboard mechanism



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,742

4. B. WALSH KEYBOARD MECHANISM Filed May 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR 21% Z m Jan. 1, 1929.

J. B. WALSH KEYBOARD MECHANISM Fi led May 51, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

JOHN B. VJALSH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW/V YORK, ASSIGN OR TO MERGENTHALER TYPECOMPANY, A CORPORATIOH OF NEW YORK.

LINC- nnvnoann MEorrAnIsM.

Application filed May 31, 1928. Serial l\To. 281,757.

This invention relates to keyboard mechanisms, and more particularly tothe kind now in general use in the commercial linotype machine, orillustrated in the U. S. Letters Patent No. 530,931. to 1 T. Dodge,dated December 18, 1894, As employed in such machines, the keyboardmechanism ordinarily comprises a series of pivoted power-driven camyokes adapted to actuate a series of vertical reeds or bars, which inturnoperate escapements controlling the release of the matrices fromtheir storage magazine. In practice, it sometimes happens that themovement of an escapement is resisted by a matrix in improper positionin the magazine, or for other reasons, and in such event it is desirablethat the parts may yield so as to prevent their breakage or undue strainthereon. It has therefore been the custom to form the cam yokes withopen vertical slots, which al low them to shift vertically with relationto their pivot rod, and to provide spring-actuated plungers which standabove the yokes and hold them yieldingly upon the pivot rod (see theMuehleisen Patent, No. 1,056,355).

The foregoing construction, however, is not altogether free fromobjection, as the parts are somewhat uncertain in their action, due tothe tendency of the plungers to stick or bind, and for other reasonsunecessary to refer to. In addition, the parts are expensive tomanufacture, and much time and labor is required to assemble them andobtain their proper adjustment.

The present invention is intended to obviate these and other objectionsand contemplates a cam yoke which in itself will have the requiredresiliency to take care of any resistance ofiered to the movement of theescapement actuating. devices; In the pre ferred embodiment illustrated,the cam element which operates the yoke is'resiliently mounted the-reinso as to be capable of yield ing relatively thereto when the yoke issubjected to undue resistance.v

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely inpreferred form and by way of example, and as applied to the keyboardmechanism of a linotype machine of the class stated, but obviousl 1 manychanges and variations may be made therein, and in its mode ofapplication, which will still be comprised within its spirit. It istherefore to be understood that the invention,

is not limited to any specific form or embodiexcept in so far as suchlimitations are ment specified in the claims. Referrmg to the drawings:

l is a vertical section through the front portion of a linotype machineshowing the keyboard mechanism and parts controlled thereby with theplied thereto;

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views showing the operation of the improved camyoke;

present improvements ap- Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation, partly brokenaway, of the lmproved cam yoke;

F 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4:; V F g. 6 1s a transverse verticalsection taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 1s a detail perspective View of the cam supporting lever;

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section,

showing a modification of the improved cam yoke; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1, the matrices X are re.-

leased from their magazine A by the undei lying escapements A which areoperated by the seriesof vertically movable rods or reeds vided with theoperating cams or eccentrics The cams of.

D rotatably mounted therein. each series are adapted to'be rotated bythe underlying power-driven roll E. Near their inner ends, the yokes 0rest upon the pivoted trip dogs F which normally sustain them at suchheight that the respective cams D' will just clear the rolls E, thecams, in this.posi-* tion ofthe parts, being restrained against rotarymotion by their engagement 'wlth the tilted stop pins D dependihg fromthe frame-f work. However, when the dogs F are rocked The i abouttheirpivotal axes, the yokes are tripped and the cams D allowed to dropinto fric tional contact with the underlying roll E, which thereuponrotate the cams and cause them'to rock the yokes upwardly and operatethe escapements in the usual manner. The rocking of the trip dogs F iscontrolled by the series of vertical keybars F which are slidablymounted in the keyboard and operated by the linger key levers F As sofar described, the parts and their mode of operation are or may be thesame as those embodied in the commercial linotype machine and inthemselves constitute no part of this invention.

According to the present invention, it is proposed to construct theyokes that one of the two essential elements thereof, i. e., the lever Cor its operating cam D, may yield in relation to the other and thusprovide the degree of safety required in the operation of the keyboardmechanism when undue resistance is offered by the reeds.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 the yoke or lever C, whichis preferably stamped out of sheet metal, is formed about midway itslength (see particularly Fig. 7) with anopen transverse slot G andat itsis lower edge near its inner end with a notch vided with a lateral studd located opposite C, the latter affording the clearance required forthe associated trip dog F as the cam drops into engagement with theconstantly driven roll E. The bottom of the slot C is curved on a givenradius and the top thereof is formed by an overhanging lip C The camelement D (see Figs. 3 and 5) is arranged astride the supporting lever Cwith its two side plates D parallel and adjacent to the opposite sidefaces of the lever. The plates D are connected together by means of astay. pin D staked and riveted therein, and which constitutes a rotaryspindle for the cam element. Each of the plates D is proeach other nearthe outer periphery thereof and which are spaced far enough apart. toclear the lever C when the cam element is rotated. If desired, the sidefaces of the lever C may be milled or grooved (as indicated in Figs. 4and 7) to provide additional clearance for the studs d and permit thelatter to be made slightly longer. These studs d are adapted tocooperate with the depending stop pins D and the latter are made widerthan heretofore (and hence are more substantial) so as to engage bothstuds and arrest the cam squarely as it completes its cycle of rotation.The cam element D is also provided with a bearing thimble D in which thestay pin D is journaled and which seats the curved bottom portion of theslot C The sideffianges d of the thimble fit flushagainst the side facesof the lever G and are intended to sustain and guide the cam facewise inthe slot C p A small compresslon spring C arranged in the slot C andinterposed between the thimble D and the overhanging lip tendsconstantly to hold the cam resiliently in normal operative relation tothe lever. Preferably, the spring C is anchored at both ones so as toobviate any danger of its displacement, thelip 0 being shaped to it inthe upper end of the spring and the thimble D being formed between itsside flanges d with a depression or seat 0Z in which the lower end ofthe spring is confined (see Figs. 4 and 6). As thus arranged, the cam isfree to rotate in the thimble D but, at the same time, is capable ofyielding in the slot U relatively to its supporting lever C and againsttension of the spring C These springs C are made considerably strongerthan the corresponding escapement springs A before mentioned, so thatthe resistance offered by the latter, under normal conditions, will beinsufiicient to cause yielding of the cams D in relation to theirrespective supporting levers. If, for any reason, however, a reed shouldbe blocked against upward movement, the corresponding cam will then beallowed to yield and to complete its cycle of rotation without damage tothe parts (see Fig. The improved device is very simple, inexpensive tomanufacture, and in itself is capable of affording the resiliencyrequired under abnormal conditions. Moreover, the lever C and the cam Dmay be quickly assembled and dissembled, one with or from the other, bymerely inserting or removing the compression spring C The open slots Gin the pivoted ends of the levers C are advantageous because theyfacilitate the independent removal of the cam units, it being noted(see 1) that'the solid cross bars Gr, em} ployed to retain the leverspivotally engaged with the rods or wires C are hingedly mount-ed so thatthey maybe swung out of the way when desired. I

Attention is now directed to Figs. 8 and 9 which show the invention in amodified form. In this instance, the yoke or lever C embraces the cam Das heretofore, and the latter is formed with a centrally locatedaperture D wherein is arranged a bearing thimble D which fits snugly inthe curved lower end of the aperture and has its side flanges astrideand flush against the side faces of the cam D. The thimble D althoughsimilar in form to the thimble D and formed with a depression or seat d,is journaled on the pivot. stud C which is fixedly secured in the yokeC. A compression spring I), an-

chored to the seat 03* and confined in an up likewise arovides for theyieldin of the cam D relatively to the yoke C whenever the normaloperation of the yoke is impeded, the peculiar shape of the aperture Dallowing free movement of the cam substantially in all directions withreference to the bearing thimble D, from the moment it raises the yokeinto contact with the reed until it passes free of the driving roll E.At such times, any danger of the spring D losing its purchase on thethimble so as to. become wedged between the latter and the walls of theaperture is obviated by anchoring the spring to the seat (Z Many changesand alterations will readily occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. It should therefore beunderstood, as previously stated, that the invention is not limited toany specific form or embodiment except-in so far as such limitations arespecified in the claims.

of an application filed by-me March 9,1928, Serial No. 260,346.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a keyboard mechanism. of the class described, the combination ofan actuating reed, a yoke or lever pivoted fixedly at one end andhaving'its opposite end arranged in position to engage the reed, and a.rotary cam resiliently mounted in the, yoke so. as to be capable ofyielding bodily in relation thereto when undue resistance is offered bythe reed.

2. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, the combination of anactuating reed, a yoke or lever element pivoted fixedly at one end andhaving its opposite end arranged in position to engage the reed, a camelement rotatably mounted in the yoke, and resilient means interposedbetween the yoke and cam elements whereby one is allowed to yield inrelation to the other when undue resistance is offered by the reed.

3. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, the combination of anactuating reed, a yoke or lever pivoted fixedly at one end and havingits opposite end arranged in position to engage the reed, a camrotatably mounted in the yoke, and resilient means interposed betweenthe cam and the yoke and carried by the latter, whereby the cam isallowed to yield bodily in relation to the yoke when undue resistance isoffered by the reed.

4:. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, the combination of apivoted trip dog, means for rocking the latter ab-out'its pivotal axis,and a reed actuating device comprising a yoke, or lever pivoted fixedlyat one end and resting at its opposite end upon the trip dog, and a camelement rotatably mounted in said yoke and consisting of a pair of camplates connected together in parallel spaced relation to each other,said yoke being arranged between, the cam plates and formed with a notchto clear the trip dog whenthe latter is actuated.

5. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, a reed actuatingdevicecomprising a rotary cam element consisting of apair of cam platesconnected together in parallel spaced relation to each other, asupporting 6. In a keyboard mechanism of the class despaced relation toeach other, a supporting yoke or lever arranged between the cam rotaryspindle for the cam element rotatably mounted in said slot, and a springarranged within the slot and cooperating with the spindle formaintaining the cam element resilieilitly in normal operative relationto the yo re.

'Z. In a keyboard mechanism o-f the class described, a reed actuatingdevice comprising a yoke or lever formed. with a transverse slot, athimble movably mounted in the slot,

a rotary cam journaled in the thimble, and

a spring carried by the yoke for holding the thimble and cam resilientlyin normal operative relation thereto.

8. In a keyboard mechanism of the class despaced relation to each other,asupporting' yoke or lever arranged between the cam plates and formedwith a transverse slot wherein the cam element is rotatably mounted, anda spring arranged within the slot for maintaining the cam-elementresiliently in normal operative relation to the yoke, said slot beingopen to permit the cam and lever to be readily assembled and dissembled,one with or from the other.

9. In or for a keyboard mechanism of the class described, a camsupporting yoke-or lever formed about midway its length with an openbearing slot, as and for the purpose described.

10. In or for a keyboard mechanism of the class described, a camsupporting yoke or lever formed about midway its length with an openbearing slot, and near the opposite end thereof with a notch in itsbottom edge for the purpose described.

11. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, the combination ofan actuating reed, a yoke or lever pivoted fixedly at one end and havingits opposite end arranged in,

plates and formed with a transverse slot, a This application is acontinuation lnpart resiliently mounted in the yoke, said cam beingcapable of yielding relatively to its axis of rotation when undueresistance is offered by the reed. 4 ,7 12. In a keyboard mechanism ofthe class described, the combination of an actuating reed, a yoke orlever pivoted fixedly at one end and having its opposite end arranged inposition to engage the reed, a rotary cam, and a bearing thiinbletherefor journaled in the yoke, the said cam being resiliently connectedto the thimble to permit yielding of the former in relation to the yokeWhen undue resistance is offered by the reed.

13. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, a reed actuatingdevice comprising a rotatable cam, a supporting yoke or lever therefor;a bearing thimble for the cam journaled in the yoke, and a spring forholding the cam and thimble resiliently in normal operative relation sothat the cam may yield in relation to the yoke and thimble when undueresistance is offered by the reed.

14. In or fora keyboard mechanism of the class described, a compositekeyboard cam element comprising a body portion provided With a centralaperture, a bearing thimble mounted in the aperture, and a compressionspring for holding the parts resiliently in their normal operativerelation.

15. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, the'combination ofan actuating reel, a yoke or lever pivoted fixedly at one end and havingits opposite end arranged in position to engage the reed, a rotary cam,and a bearing thimble therefor journaled in the yoke, the said cam beingresiliently connected to the thimble and formed with an enlc rgedaperture to enable it to yield relatively to the thimble substantiallyin all directions during rotation.

16. In a keyboard mechanism of the class described, the combination ofan actuating reed, a yoke or lever pivoted fixedly at one end and havingits opposite end'arranged in position to engage the reed, and a rotarycam resiliently mounted in the yoke, said cam being capable of yieldingrelatively to its axis or rotation substantially in all directions Whenundue resistance is oilered by the reed. 50

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature hereto.

JOHN B. VALSH.

